Coatesville grants more time for hotel

COATESVILLE -- An extension for approval of plan change for the proposed Marriott Hotel was granted on Nov. 28 after the second request came to City Council.

Council denied an extension at its Nov. 14 meeting, but after representatives for developer Don Pulver explained the need for the extension, council unanimously approved the request. Ross Weiss, Pulver's attorney, said the extension will have no impact on the opening of the hotel.

"The hotel will open this spring," Weiss said. "This will not stop that."

In August, Pulver asked council if he could change the parking garage that is proposed to more surface parking between the hotel and a proposed office building. Weiss said last week that after further review, the developers are unsure now as to what parking situation would be best.

Weiss said all the facts about cost and so forth are not available to make a final determination. Council grant

ed the extension through May 31 at which point the developers will need to submit a final plan or ask for more time.

Council President Joseph Hamrick said he is concerned that the developers are still going to provide the city with an easement to their trail property that runs along the Brandywine Creek. Weiss said that easement will definitely be granted, but exactly where it will be and how large is still being negotiated.

The 125-room hotel will have sufficient parking at its opening, because of temporary parking built on site during the construction phase. If the developers change the plans to have all surface parking, then the temporary lot would become permanent.

Originally, the parking garage was designed because of the need for adequate storm-water management on the property. However, the developers said a stormwater management system can now exist underneath the parking lot.

Weiss said he expects a decision on which parking situation is more feasible within the next six months.

Part of the problem is the developers are working to also build a restaurant on the property, he said.

Determining where the restaurant will be built and the size of it, will need to be factored into the parking decision, he said.